Penang channels RM2.42mil to Tamil schools and education
GEORGE TOWN: Diversity remains Penang’s cornerstone of unity, turning societal differences into shared economic and educational progress for all communities, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow of Penang emphasized the importance of education as a foundation for the younger generation. He announced that the state government allocated RM2.42 million to enhance Tamil vernacular education, digital competency, and exposure to STEM subjects in Penang. Of this sum, RM1.34 million was given to the Penang Education Council for digital infrastructure upgrades and STEM capabilities.
An additional RM768,901 was distributed to 28 Tamil primary schools through their Parent-Teacher Associations for routine maintenance and facility enhancements. Furthermore, RM194,400 was allocated to 11 Tamil kindergartens within Tamil primary schools to bolster early childhood education. Chow praised grassroots cultural preservation initiatives, such as free Tamil classes organized by the Lebuh Pasar Village Community Management Council, and reaffirmed the state's commitment to securing permanent land titles for all 28 Tamil primary schools.
As of June 2026, land plots had been secured for five schools, with five more planned over the next two to three years. The state has also allocated a 2.368-acre site to accommodate the relocation of SJKT Rajaji in Air Itam. In the 2027 Madani Budget framework, Penang aims to strengthen collaboration with federal agencies, civil society, and the private sector to boost socio-economic opportunities, including supporting Indian micro-entrepreneurs and youth through platforms like Tekun Nasional, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), and the Malaysian Indian Transformation Unit (Mitra).
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